ROTZKOTZ- Lebensfroh und farbenfroh LP (No Fun!. Germany, 1981)

ROTZKOTZ (kinda hard to translate; “Rotz” is snot and “Kotz” is short for “vomit” = Snotvomit) from Germany were formed in 1977 and released a great, pretty much under-appreciated Punk LP in 1979 (“Much funny”), before putting out this 2nd and last album in 1981. Although the band gained some fame back in the day, it seems that ROTZKOTZ nowadays have fallen pretty much into oblivion.
This LP however is brilliant. The intro makes it clear: “Das ist unser Leben”, “This is our life”, a voice explains and our life in the 80s seemed to be in peril as it seems endangered today. You’ll hear short motives for the 50s, the 60s, the 70s and finally the 80s. Computers, or rather the paranoia of computers “taking over” and replacing humankind is one of the often heard and most powerful lyrical topics of many early 80s bands. Another quite popular subject of german bands were immigrants from Turkey in Germany – what we’d call problematic these days, a quite exotistic view on some cultural aspects of Turks in european diaspora, is the lyrical background of the highly energetic “Deutsche Land”. The rest of the songs is of comparable power and urgency. The FEHLFARBEN influence is obvious throughout and the irony and coldness of ROTZKOTZ in its greatest moments comes close to the genius of the masters.
Here are some of my fave tracks off of this LP and they all go out to Mel who enjoys this herself quite a bit.
Computermensch.mp3
Was ich nicht weiss.mp3
Deutsche Land.mp3
Tante EMI.mp3
Müslibrei.mp3
Schlanke Finger.mp3
Lebensfroh und farbenfroh.mp3
Es kehrt die Zeit.mp3
Zeitsignale.mp3
0.-.mp3
Schatten der Vergangenheit.mp3
Äuglein zu.mp3

Fuckshitupism deluxe.

Anonymous wrote:
why are there so many Turkish people in Germany? I went to Berlin last year and there are some parts of Berlin that look like you have entered into a real Turkish city in Turkey! Are these Turkish immigrants legal or illegal?
Is it easy for an illegal alien to live in Germany?
Does Germany use the Turkish people like the way the the big scum buiness people of France use the African immigrants as slave, or the way the USA uses illegal Mexican workers? You know, in that secret slave way?
I know the mayor of Berlin is some fag but does he notice that his city has an huge Turkish population, many of them who I’m sure are not legal and who I have heard also cause crime and gang fights there in Germany.
Sure, the doner that the Turkish people make are great pieces of food and most of them are peaceful people. But then there is also problems that come with crime, over-crowding, illegal hiring, and of course recently those Turkish-Muslims getting into fights with Jews in Berlin, very Nazi styled fights again.
I’m curious to know what’s happening there. Maybe I should just buy a newspaper but I would like to hear your view since you seem to know german and germany.
[Reply]
Posted on 24-Dec-06 at 11:40 pm | Permalink
Erich wrote:
My view: Too many Germans in Germany, too many Spaniards in Spain, too many Brits in Great Britain, too many Irish in Ireland, too many Italos in Italy, too many Americans in America, too many Swiss in Switzerland, too many Frenchies in France etc. etc. etc. (continue ad libidum)
[Reply]
Posted on 25-Dec-06 at 1:57 am | Permalink
Slobodan Burgher wrote:
Hm, yeah I am inclined to support the “too many humans” school of thought as elaborated on the No Trend LP of the same title….LOL!
I noticed that the approach used in response to request etc here is usually not very forthcoming (which is, weirdly, quite admirable) but nevermind, YES the raw mix for Amebix’s Monolith album would certainly make 2007 a good year for me, my ears and my mental outlook. So, if you ever feel inclined to post this, don’t hesitate.
Besides isn’t there in some circles the notion that said record is too clean in sound (as opposed to earlier releases)? If that is true, I think I read some review years ago by someone who seemed to think so – and therefore totally slaughtering the record, such post would potentially add to the debate (ok, I am fishing for good reasons for you to post it, now I will shut up)….
Thanks for the Rotzkotz post – very entertaining, as usual!
Best etc,
Slobodan
[Reply]
Posted on 25-Dec-06 at 5:54 pm | Permalink
Anonymous wrote:
Love the Rotzkotz LP. As usual John Peel turned me on to this band together with other German greats like DAF, Abwarts, Einsturzende, Malaria, Xmal Deutschland etc. I introduced this genre to my friends and they went on to form Nitzer Ebb. Early gigs started with a WASP synth, a metal can for drums and pyrotechnics. Pogel
[Reply]
Posted on 25-Dec-06 at 6:53 pm | Permalink
Erich wrote:
Slobo, this is no school whatsoever and definately not the “too many humans” one.
[Reply]
Posted on 26-Dec-06 at 1:03 am | Permalink
Albert Camus wrote:
Ich liebe der Rotzkotz.
[Reply]
Posted on 27-Dec-06 at 6:23 am | Permalink
martinf wrote:
Mein Gott, wie lange habe ich diese Platte nicht mehr gehört. Und irgendwie hatte ich immer Probleme mit der Platte, schon Müslibrei war damals ein echtes Hassobjekt. Und heute kann ich es laut sagen: die Platte ist Scheiße! Die Texte sind klischeehaft und abgekupfert (viel schlechter als Hans-A-Plast), die Musik zu wenig durchdacht und zu sehr auf die damals von den ndW-Massen geliebten Klänge und Gags schielend, ein einziges Kuddelmuddel mit einem merkwürdig überdrehten E.A. Wehmer am Gesang. Nach der Platte stieg er (fast) endgültig aus und Horst Illing machte weiter als Bizarre Leidenschaften mit mehr Synthie-Sounds, nicht viel besser, aber immerhin stringenter. Wehmer tauchte dann beim Beatklub zusammen mit E.K.T. von Der Moderne Man auf (eine Mini-LP auf ZickZack) und dort gibt es dann noch mal eine Version von „Schatten der Vergangenheit“ mit teilweise französischem Text. „Schatten der Vergangenheit“ ist auch der mit Abstand beste Song auf „Lebensfroh und Farbenfroh“, kein Wunder, den gab es ja auch schon in englischer Sprache auf der ersten LP, als die Band sich noch mehr Mühe gab mit dem Songwriting. Rotzkotz gab es über die Jahre immer mal wieder (Jens Gallmeyer von Smarties/Gigantor hat auch mal mitgespielt) und haben jetzt eine völlig grottige Webseite unter http://www.rotzkotz.de, allerdings gibt es die Diskografie nur noch hier: http://web.archive.org/web/20050406191525/www.rotzkotz.de/index2.htm (Illings Sohn macht glaube ich in Techno und von ihm stammt der Remix auf der Webseite), während E.A.Wehmer Gerüchten zu Folge mit Hartz IV unter die Räder gekommen ist. Dabei war die „Problem“/“Kein Problem“-Single so viel versprechend. Was sich eher zu posten lohnen würde wäre die „Dresden 45“-Single der New York Niggers, weil der Sänger und Gitarrist Dieter Runge zur Erstbesetzung von Rotzkotz gehörte, aber dann nach New York ging, weil Illing seinen Song nicht spielen wollte (tja, es gab auch 1978 schon political correctness-Probleme). Mein Gott, was aus Runge wohl geworden ist? Die NYN mussten sich ja in Velvet umbenennen, weil keine Plattenfirma was mit dem NYN-Namen zu tun haben wollte (heute hätten sie wohl weniger Skrupel), irgendwann hörte ich auch mal was mit deutschen Text und Akkordeon von ihm. Mal Hollow Skai fragen, har har har.
[Reply]
Posted on 27-Dec-06 at 7:06 am | Permalink
Erich wrote:
Ja, Martin – Du hast irgendwie schon recht. Ich hör die Scheibe alle Jubeljahre mal und bin dannn meist während der ersten drei Songs vom Stuhl gerissen, weil die beim ersten Mal hören nach längerer Zeit ziemlich gut abgehen – aber danach hab ich immer ein komisches Gefühl. Hmmm.
[Reply]
Posted on 27-Dec-06 at 8:18 am | Permalink
martinf wrote:
da ist sie: http://sonofspam.wordpress.com/2006/12/18/new-york-niggers/
[Reply]
Posted on 08-Jan-07 at 10:19 am | Permalink
Dieter Runge wrote:
Aloha,
I agree with Martin’s comment and history of Rotz Kotz, and I am still R’& rolling, currently finishing my MFA at UH Manoa, HI and playing with ’3rd floor’. I just finished a painting of the bombing of Dresden and am thinking of re releasing Dresden 45. After Rotz Kotz and NYN I realesed a single and an album on Toast Records under East of Eden and Dieter Osten. I also made a few videos and a bike messenger short. After focussing on taiji, windsurfing and kitesurfing, I did BA’s in psych and art, and am still trying to shake up the scene.
Aloha,
Dieter (Lenny Ducati, Deetour, Dieter Osten, je et’ un autre)
PS: Look out for my MFA thesis exhibition April 20-25, 2008, UH Manoa, Honolulu HI;
FESTIVAL of PATIENCE
[Reply]
Posted on 05-Feb-08 at 2:13 am | Permalink
wilddevilman wrote:
can you please re-up the full length LP?????
[Reply]
Posted on 15-May-08 at 9:58 am | Permalink